Statins Do Not Increase Bleeding Stroke Risk

It was thought that cholesterol-lowering medications (statins) might raise the risk for bleeding
in the brain?intracerebral hemorrhage?because abnormally low cholesterol is a risk factor
for the condition. A new study, nevertheless, has found that cerebral hemorrhages have not
increased with the use of these drugs.

The study, reported in Stroke (June 2004), examined the genetic and environmental risk factors
for bleeding stroke. The researchers compared 188 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage
and 366 matched participants who did not have a stroke. The results indicated that statin use
was not connected with an increased risk of bleeding in the brain.

The researchers noted, however, that they did not have data on the participants' cholesterol
levels. Despite knowing which participants were treated with statins, the investigators were
unaware of whether that treatment was effective in lowering cholesterol levels.